The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
An SRT file is a plain-text subtitle file that pairs dialogue or caption text with the times it should appear and disappear. Its basic structure is easy to edit in a text editor: a numbered entry, a timing line, the subtitle text, and a blank line before the next entry.
What an SRT file contains
SRT stands for SubRip. The format is widely used for subtitles and captions, but it has no official specification, so support for optional features can differ between apps and players. The Library of Congress describes its basic structure in its SRT format overview.
A basic file looks like this:
1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,000
Hello, world!
2
00:00:03,080 --> 00:00:05,080
This subtitle has
more than one line.Each entry contains four parts:
- Counter: A sequential number identifying the entry. Numbering starts at 1 in the European Commission Audiovisual Library’s subtitling guide.
- Timing line: The start and end timestamps, separated by a space, the arrow
-->, and another space. In the first example, the text appears at one second and ends at three seconds. - Subtitle text: One or more lines. The second example entry uses two.
- Blank separator: An empty line marks the end of an entry and separates it from the next one.
How to open or make an SRT file
An SRT file is plain text, so you can open and edit it in a plain-text editor. To make one, create a new text file, enter each subtitle block in the structure above, and save it with the .srt extension. YouTube also describes SRT as a basic caption-file type that can be edited in plain-text software in its caption file format guidance.
For an upload, follow the receiving service’s encoding requirements. YouTube’s cited guidance requires plain UTF-8 for SRT uploads; the European Commission guide also requires UTF-8. These are named destinations’ requirements, not a guarantee that every application accepts the same encoding or file variations.
#1 Best Overall
![WavePad Audio Editing Software - Professional Audio and Music Editor for Anyone [Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/B1fcLEGCs6S.png._SL160_.png)
- Full-featured professional audio and music editor that lets you record and edit music, voice and other audio recordings
- Add effects like echo, amplification, noise reduction, normalize, equalizer, envelope, reverb, echo, reverse and more
- Supports all popular audio formats including, wav, mp3, vox, gsm, wma, real audio, au, aif, flac, ogg and more
- Sound editing functions include cut, copy, paste, delete, insert, silence, auto-trim and more
- Integrated VST plugin support gives professionals access to thousands of additional tools and effects
Common SRT mistakes and fixes
- A period instead of a comma: SRT timestamps place a comma before the millisecond digits, as in
00:00:01,250. A period is used in WebVTT timestamps instead. - A malformed arrow: Keep the start time, a space,
-->, another space, and the end time. Do not omit the arrow or reverse the times. - No blank line between entries: Add an empty line after each block of subtitle text before the next counter.
- An unsupported encoding: Save as plain UTF-8 when the destination requires it, and check that service’s current upload instructions.
- Markup that does not render as expected: Some players interpret tags such as
<i>or<b>, but support is inconsistent. YouTube says its SRT support does not recognize markup. If styling matters, check the destination’s rules and test the file in the target player. - Changing only the extension: Renaming an SRT file to
.vttdoes not convert its contents. WebVTT uses a different structure, including aWEBVTTheader and different timestamp punctuation.
SRT or WebVTT: which should you use?
Use the format accepted by the site, player, or delivery workflow. SRT is a straightforward subtitle text file; WebVTT is the W3C-specified format for external text tracks associated with HTML’s <track> element. WebVTT can carry subtitles, captions, chapters, and other time-aligned data, and supports cue positioning features.
| Feature | SRT | WebVTT |
|---|---|---|
| Typical structure | Numbered entries with timing lines and text | Begins with a WEBVTT header, followed by cues |
| Milliseconds | Comma before milliseconds, for example 00:00:01,250 |
Period before thousandths |
| Web text-track workflow | Not the format specified for HTML’s native external text tracks | Specified by W3C for use with HTML’s <track> element |
| Styling and positioning | Optional styling support varies by application | Supports cue positioning features under the WebVTT specification |
The syntax differences are set out in the W3C’s WebVTT specification and the European Commission’s SRT guide. Because SRT has no official specification, do not assume every app accepts the same timestamp variations, tags, line lengths, or encodings.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
![Corel VideoStudio Pro 2023 | Beginner-Friendly Video Editing Software | Slideshow Maker, Screen Recorder, DVD Burner [PC Download]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51NmuTv+AhL._SL160_.jpg)
- VIDEO EDITING SUITE: Enjoy this fun, easy-to-use and beginner-friendly video editing suite designed to create movies and slideshows that impress and inspire
- VALUE-PACKED: Explore the robust collection of features including essential trimming tools, screen recording, MultiCam capture and editing, color correction, motion and speed effects, GIF Creator, audio editing, and more
- TITLES and TRANSITIONS: Streamline your video storytelling with all kinds of unique transitions from basic ones to unique customizable transitions and introduce title and on-screen captions that highlight important scenes
- CREATIVE CONTENT: Add style with built-in templates, hundreds of creative filters and overlays, bring fun with animated AR Stickers, Face Effects, and GIF Creator
- AUDIO EDITOR: Import your own music, use our royalty-free music library, clean background noise with Audio Ducking, or record your own narration with our built-in voiceover tools
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
